Bulgaria and Romania Joined the Schengen Zone: What Does It Mean?

Last night marked a big change for Bulgaria and Romania as they officially joined the Schengen zone, making it easier to travel across many European countries without border checks. This expansion includes countries like Germany, Spain, and France, among others. The Schengen area now covers 25 of the 27 EU member states, as well as a few additional countries like Switzerland and Norway. Imagine traveling from Romania to Spain by car or train without needing to stop at borders. That’s now possible! This change is a big deal for travelers and businesses, making it simpler for people to move around for work, holidays, or even just to visit family and friends. The Schengen agreement has been around for a while, but it’s not always smooth sailing. There have been discussions and concerns about issues like security and migration. For example, Germany recently reintroduced border controls temporarily to manage migration. Bulgaria and Romania have been working towards full Schengen membership for a long time. They started by lifting checks on air and sea travel in March. However, the final step—removing land border checks—only happened recently when Austria dropped its veto. Joining the Schengen zone isn’t just about travel. It also strengthens the EU as a whole, making it more united and influential globally. This change will affect millions of people, both from EU countries and beyond, who can now travel, work, and live more freely.